Naples in 2 days: day-by-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 2 of 7 free; 5 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 16:51 each day
- Start and finish
- Naples Waterfront → Pompeii
- On foot
- ≈ 46 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 20 min
- Lunch
- around 13:20
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. Pompeii is hot and shadeless in summer, so arrive at opening.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Naples09:30–16:51 · 6 places · 7 h 20 min
Naples Waterfront
· 1 h · Free
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Castel dell'Ovo
· 45 min · Free
- 15 min on foot
Royal Palace of Naples
· 1 h 30 min · Square free, palace paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 4 min on foot
Galleria Umberto I
· 20 min · Free
- 6 min on foot
Castel Nuovo
· 1 h · Courtyard free, museum paid
- 21 min on foot
Cappella Sansevero
· 40 min · Paid, timed entry
Day 2 · Naples09:30–14:30 · 1 place · 5 h
Pompeii
· 5 h · Paid
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
2 of 7 are free; 5 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Naples Waterfront | 42 | 1 h | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Castel dell'Ovo | 46 | 45 min | Free |
| 3 | Royal Palace of Naples | 39 | 1 h 30 min | Square free, palace paid |
| 4 | Galleria Umberto I | 46 | 20 min | Free |
| 5 | Castel Nuovo | 42 | 1 h | Courtyard free, museum paid |
| 6 | Cappella Sansevero | 40 | 40 min | Paid, timed entry |
| 7 | Pompeii | 50 | 5 h | Paid |
| Total | 10 h 20 min | 2 of 7 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Naples Waterfront. The pedestrian seafront to Mergellina: sunset, Capri views and pizza by the harbour. Free.
- 2
Castel dell'Ovo. Naples' oldest castle on its islet off the waterfront. Usually free, with Vesuvius views from the ramparts.
- 3
Royal Palace of Naples. The Bourbon palace on Piazza del Plebiscito: grand staircase, royal apartments and hanging garden. The square is free; the palace is ticketed and closed Wednesdays.
- 4
Galleria Umberto I. The glass-domed 19th-century arcade opposite the San Carlo theatre. Free, and a good place for an espresso at the bar.
- 5
Castel Nuovo. The Angevin castle by the port with its marble triumphal arch. Arch and courtyard free; museum and terraces ticketed.
- 6
Cappella Sansevero. Sanmartino's Veiled Christ. Timed entry, best booked online; no photos inside.
Day 2
- 7
Pompeii. The Roman town under Vesuvius: forum, baths, villas and amphitheatre. Circumvesuviana ≈ 40 minutes; water and good shoes essential.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Naples
- Pompeii is the main goal
- No car, by train
- Climbing Vesuvius: see the 3-day route
- The islands: separate trips
Spring and autumn. Pompeii is hot and shadeless in summer, so arrive at opening.
What to see in Naples in 2 days
Day one is a walk through the centre: the palace and castles by the sea, the historic quarter with the Sansevero Chapel and an evening on the waterfront. Day two is all Pompeii: the train from Napoli Garibaldi takes about 40 minutes, and the site itself needs at least 3 to 4 hours.
Book Pompeii and the Sansevero Chapel ahead. At Pompeii, download the map and mark the essentials: the forum, the Stabian Baths, the House of the Faun, the House of the Vettii, the Villa of the Mysteries and the amphitheatre.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Day two: Pompeii
Set off early to be there at opening: Pompeii is hot by midday and the groups multiply. Start at the forum with its Vesuvius view, then the baths and Via dell'Abbondanza; after lunch, the House of the Faun, the Villa of the Mysteries outside the walls and the amphitheatre at the eastern end.
Bring water, a hat and comfortable shoes for the big paving stones and the lack of shade. Take the same train back to Naples in the evening and finish with pizza in the centre.
More to see
Before Pompeii, visit the Archaeological Museum to see the original mosaics and frescoes from the houses you'll walk through. With a third day, add Vesuvius and Herculaneum, or the Capodimonte museum.
How to do it right
- Buy Pompeii tickets online.
- Reach Pompeii at opening, with water and a hat.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees, and large backpacks are often refused.
- Italy uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for cafés and markets. Buy museum tickets ahead on official sites, where closing days are listed too.
- Get off at Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri for the ruins.
Questions
What should I see in Naples in 2 days?
Day one: the seafront centre with the Royal Palace, castles and the Sansevero Chapel. Day two: Pompeii.
How do I get from Naples to Pompeii?
By Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Garibaldi to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri, about 40 minutes.
How long do you need at Pompeii?
3 to 4 hours for the highlights, a full day to see the whole site.
Can you do Pompeii and Vesuvius in one day?
Yes, but it's a full day: the volcano in the morning, Pompeii after lunch.
Where should I stay for 2 days in Naples?
Centrally around Via Toledo or Municipio, close to the sea and the trains.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Historic Centre of Naples (no. 726); Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata (no. 829)
